"The announcement from Macworld about the effective relaunch of the AppleTV is encouraging.

"This, coupled with Apple's (long anticipated) move to a rental model, means that we can look to getting BBC iPlayer onto this platform too, as we should be able to use the rental functionality to allow our programmes to be downloaded, free, but retained for a time window, and then erased, as our rights holders currently insist."

Widespread criticism

If this happens it will, of course, solve a big problem for the Beeb. It has been roundly criticised by Mac and Linux users as well as open source advocates for limiting downloads to Windows Media users. It has even run into trouble with the BBC Trust, which insists that iPlayer content is open to all.